Xtelle rested her haunches on the back bumper of a neon-green VW bug. The combination of glittery pink unicorn and German whimsy was eye watering.
“Oh, now you want me to talk? Now you want to pay attention to me? I tried to talk, I reallytriedDelaney, but you and your thick-headed sister wouldn’t listen. Youignoredme. Me! The Queen of the Underworld. Well, you can take that mute button and shove it up your…”
“You kicked over the table,” I interrupted. “You hacked into the slots.”
“Winning! Those people won a lot of money because of me.”
“Because of you cheating.”
“It’s a casino. Cheating is a line item.”
“You’re not a line item, Xtelle. You interfered,” I said.
“Yes, Delaney. Yes. I interfered. I am a demon. It’s what we do. Meddle. Tempt. Thumb the scales of fate. Out here? Out in the real world?” She waggled her head like a goose, daring me to throw a punch. “You have no say over what I do. You have no rules or laws over me that you can enforce unless you want to try hauling a unicorn to jail.”
“Does that bother you?” She minced up a little closer to me, then back, like a boxer in a ring. “Does it bother you that I’m out here in the big, wide world doing all manner of naughty things?” Step, step, retreat. Step, step, dodge.
“Dude,” Myra said, “why are you dancing?”
Xtelle stopped, and her nostrils flared wide. “I’m not dancing. That was…a fight. I was ready for a fight.”
“Looked likeFootlooseto me,” Myra said.
“More like footlose,” I said.
Myra held out her palm, and I slapped it.
“Rude!” Xtelle said, but there was something in her eyes that looked like mirth. She was enjoying this. “If you want any sort of power over me, you are going to have to let me into Ordinary.”
True. I didn’t have powers over demons, gods, or any supernatural creatures outside Ordinary’s boundaries. If I allowed her into Ordinary, she’d have to follow the laws and rules, and I’d be the one enforcing them.
Which would make Xtellemyproblem.
Like I needed more problems.
“You can’t stay in Ordinary,” Myra said.
“I can if I sign the silly contract you keep going on and on about.”
“It’s more than signing,” Myra said. “You’ll have to follow the rules and conditions of the contract. You’ll be bound by Ordinary’s laws.”
“Hello,” Xtelle said, “demon. I know more about contracts than you ever will.”
“Hello, dating your son,” Myra said, pointing at herself. “I know you won’t follow the rules. We’re done here.” Myra turned, headed to the cruiser.
“I’ll do it.”
I blinked.
Xtelle raised her chin, her gaze level. “I’ll sign the contract. I’ll follow Ordinary’s rules.”
I rubbed at the headache starting behind my eyes. Myra opened the cruiser door, then it clanked shut.
“Let’s be serious for a minute.” I dropped my hand. “This isn’t a game, Xtelle. Not this part.”
Xtelle considered me for a moment, then seemed to make up her mind. She shimmered, becoming pink fire and smoke, burnt strawberries, then reformed into her woman shape.
She was tall, taller than me, her long, dark hair braided over one shoulder, her skin flawless. Her eyes flashed pink before going dark again. She wore a simple, cream cashmere sweater and a pair of wide-legged cream slacks.
